Hopper



March 3, 1942- M. A. WECKERLY HOPPER 5 Sheet$-$heet l ATTORNEYS Mar/v ,4Webkerzz INVENTOR BZWZZZ ZWM Filed April 25, 1958 March 3, 1942.

M. A. -WECKERLY HOPPER Filed April 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mar/rM/ec/ver/y ATTORNEYS Mflmh M. AQWECKERLY 2,275,331

- HOPPER Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ATTORNEYS if? vfl/ark ,4. Weaker/j Patented Mar. 3, 1942 norraa Mark A. Weckerly,Toledo, Ohio, assignor to To-' ledo Scale Company, a corporation of NewJersey Application April 25, 1938, Serial No. 204,009

4 Claims.

This invention relates to hoppers, and more particularly to hoppersadapted to receive material from a material feeding means and adapted todischarge such material when a predetermined amount has accumulatedtherein.

Hoppers of this kind are frequently mounted upon the load receivingplatform of a weighing scale, the scale being equipped with means fordetermining the amount of material delivered to a hopper by a materialfeeding device. The scale is further equipped with means for controllingthe material feed.

Hoppers of this kind are also provided with gates for discharging thematerial and these gates are generally locked by means of a latch orcatch which must be tripped eithermanually, or by means of magnets.Latches, catches, or other means for holding the gate, frequently causetrouble due to wear or clogging when dust or some of the material getsinto the latching mechanism.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of anelectrically controlled hopper having mechanical toggle means forlocking its gate without the aid of latches, catches, or similardevices. 7

Another object is the provision of an improved scale hopperhavingpositive electromagnetically controlled toggle locking means.

A still further object is the provision of a electric circuit and meanswithin the circuit whereby the operation of a material feeding means iscontrolled and the gate of the hopper opened.

A still further object is the provision of means in the electricalcircuit for preventing the operation of the material feeding meansunless the gate of the hopper is closed.

These, and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description in which reference is had to the accompanying Thehopper 55 embodying the present invenof the hopper gate, showing indetail a toggle,

locking and actuating mechanism.

Fig. III is a fragmentary side elevational thereof and, 1 I Fig. IV is adiagram of an electrical circuit.

view

cooperative relation of that device. Since, however, the weighing scaleper Se forms no part of the invention it is not described in detail. Theweighing scale, upon which the hopper embodying the present invention ismounted, includes a customary load platter I8 and a counterpoise platteri9 surmounting a base II and an upwardly extending casing 3i housing theload counterbalancing mechanism (not shown). Secured to,

and actuated by the load countenbalancing mechanism is an indicator 28having, at its upper end, an index line 29. This line cooperates with aseries of indicia printed, or otherwise marked, on a chart 30 which isstationed within the casing immediately above the indicator 28.

For a purpose which will later become clear, the upper portion oftheindicator is also provided with a flag-like opaque screen 33 havingradial edges 34 and 35. -A window 36, in the casing 3i, permits theposition of the pointer to be observed at all times.

Secured to the casing 3| is a photoelectrically controlled interruptingmeans 31.. This includes a photoelectric tube 38 enclosed in a lighttight housing 39 mounted upon supporting means 40. A portion of thelight tight housing 39 that extends into the interior of the casing Siis provided with a vertically positioned narrow slot 42. This slot ispreferably positioned in a plane passing through a selected indicium ofthe series marked on the chart .30. A bent tube 46, having one of itsends supported by the photoelectrically controlled interrupting means,has secured to its other end a tubular casing 45. stationed within thistubular casing is a light source 43 and a condensing lens 44. The casing45 is mounted so that a. narrow pencil of light is projected through theslot 42 in the light tight housing 39.

To deliver material to the hopper 55, there is provided a materialfeeding means including a reciprocating electric motor 5| and a chute54, actuated by the reciprocating motor, whose discharge end ispositioned so that material being fed drops into the hopper 55. Astorage hopper 53 is positioned to deposit material in the vibratorychute 54.

The hopper 55, which is mounted, by means of a strap iron frame 55,upon'the load receiving platform I8, is preferably constructed fromsheet metal. The two side .walls 55 are triangular in shape so that therear'wall 5,5;presents a surface slanting towards the apex of thetriangle, the

front wall 55 being vertical and having hinged to its lower edge a gateBi.

Improved means are provided for discharging the material which hasaccumulated in the hopper 55. These means include an armature 64 of asolenoid coil 62 which, by means of a pin 65 and yoke E8, is secured tothe upper end of an actuating rod Bl, the lower end of which, by meansof a clevis 68 and a link 69, pivotally engages a crank-like arm IIIwhich is pinned to a shaft H mounted in bifurcated brackets 12, weldedor otherwise fastened to the front wall 55* immediately below a housingmember 63, which is also fastened to this wall.

Also pinned to the shaft ll, between the furcations of the bracket 12,are t ggle" arms I3 which terminate in a threaded portion and which, incooperation with threaded sleeves 14 and threaded tenons 15 ofclevis-likernernbers .10, form adjustable turn-buckles. The clevis-likemembers 16 pivotally engage other toggle arms in the form of links 11whose lower ends are pivoted, by means oi pins I8, to furcated arms 19of a plate 80 which is bolted or riveted to the gate 8|, the gate beinghinged as at 82.

Threaded into and positioned so that their heads form stops for theclevis 18 are short bolts 83. These are adJustableso that the togglesformed by the arms 12, the threaded sleeves 14, the clevises l6 and thelinks 11, may buckle inwardly about the pins 84 which form theconnection between the clevises l8 and the links 11 permitting the pins84 to pass to the other side of a plane passing through the axes of pins18 and of the shaft H as shown by the dotted line in Fig. III. Thisforms an effective lock for the hopper gate since any force exerted fromthe interior of the hopper, such as by material therein, against thelower portion of the gate II is resisted by the links 11 which now pressupwardly and inwardly against the pins 24'' in the clevis I. which,however, cannot move any further inwardly since they rest against theadjustable stops formed by the heads of the bolts 82. At

times it may be desirable to assur'ethis over-center position bysecuring one of the ends of springs 85 to the pins 84 and their otherends to the plate 80 substantially as shown in Fig. III.

To prevent the operation ofthe reciprocating motor actuating thevibratory chute I4 while the gate is open, means are provided which areadapted toopen an electrical circuit energizing the motor 5|. Thesemeans comprise a so-called normally open contact micro switch 48,secured which houses the solenoid 82 and its armature 44.

Laterally projecting pins 80 in the upper end of this bracket form afulcrum for one end of a substantially Z-shaped lever ll, its oppositeend being positioned directly beneath the yoke 46 and lightly engagedthereby when the armature 64 of the solenoid 82 is in its lowermostposition and the gate 8| is closed and locked by the action of thetoggle mechanism. When in this position a screw 92, threaded through theZ-shaped lever Si and securely locked by nut 93, depresses a projectingdielectric button 94 of the micro switch ll to prevent the actuation ofthe reciprocating motor in a manner which will hereinafter be moreparticularly described.

The amount of material that the hopper is to receive is determined byplacing a standard weight of the desired capacity upon the counterpoiseplatter 19 of the weighing scale.

The operation of the hopper is as follows:

Pressure on a push button ll (Fig. IV) closes a circuit causing currentto flow from one side of the power line 41, through leads 42, 98, and I,normally closed contact ll of relay Mi, leads I02, the coil of relayI03, leads I04, HIS, and 48' to the other side of the power line.Energization of relay I ll closes its normally open contact I"establishing a hold-in circuit, causingcurrent to flow through leads 4|,22, and I", through the contact I", leads 9', 88, contact Ill, lead I02,the coil of relay I" and leads "4, III and 42' to the other side of theline.

Closing the contact III of relay I" also closes the contact I" of relayIll, andv current now flows through the lead 48, the contact I of microswitch 88, lead Ill, contact ill, lead Ill, normally open contact I l 2of relay I II, which was energized when the circuit was closed by thepush button 86. Current then passed from one side of the line throughlead 9|, normally closed contact H4 of relay H8, lead III, the coil ofrelay Ill andthrough leads H1 and 48' to the other side of the line.

When the contact H2 of relay H3 is made, current to the reciprocatingmotor Ii through a lead Ill from one side of the line, and leads I" and4' connect the opposite pole of the reciprocating mo or II with theother side of the line. This actuates the motor ll and causes the chuteI4 to vibrate, in the known manner, conveying material from the storagehopper-I2 into the hopper Ii. As the material accumulates therein, andits weight is being sensed by the scale, the indicator 28 of the scalemoves in response to this weight, until the leading edge 24 of theflag-like opaque screen 33 on the indicator 28 covers the slot 42, thuspreventing light, from the lamp 43 to strike the sensitive element ofthe photoelectric tube 80. This prevents the passage of current throughthe photoelectric tube and closes a normally closed contact Ill of asensitive relay I20, the relay 12. having been energized by currentflowing through the photoelectric tube, when the lamp 4! is energized,and amplified by the amplifying means 49. When this contact Ill isclosed, current flows through leads 4! and I", contact Nil, leads '8 andIt, normally closed contact ll, lead "I, the coil of relay Ill andthrough leads I" and 44' to the other side of the line.

The energizaticn ofthe coil of the relay Ill opens the contact 4 andcloses a contact I22, and current then flows through leads 92, I",contact I", lead 88, contact I22, lead l2l, coil of relay Ill, andthrough leads I", and 42' to the other side of the line 41. Thismaintains the circult energizing relay Ill when the contact I22 is made.When the contact 4 is opened the coil of relay I I2 is de-energizedopening the contact 2. The current energizing the reciprocating motornow flows from one side of the power line 41 through lead 48, contact Iof "micro switch 84, lead ll, contact I" of relay I", lead Ill, througha variable resistance I23 and lead ill to the coil of the reciprocatingmotor and then through lead Ill and 48' to the other side of the powerline 41. The variable resistance I23 permits less current to flow to thereciprocating motor ll reducing the amplitude of the vibrations of thechute I4 and consequently the material is conveyed to the hopper I! in a"dribble" stream.

When the final increment of material has been deposited in the hopperIS, the trailing edge 35 end to said gate, an electric circuitoperatlvely of the flag-like opaque screen 03 on the indicator 20,uncovers the slot 42 and light from the lamp I! again illuminates thephotoelectric tube 38 permitting current to flow therethrough. Thisagain energizes relay I20 opening the normally closed contact H9 andclosing a contact I24. Current now flows from one side of the power line41 through leads 48, 90, I01, contact I06,

connecting said material fe ing means and said electrical means andcontrolling the operation leads 08 and 99, contact I24, lead I25,contacti- I26, lead I21, coil of relay IM and then through leads I20 and08' to the other side of the line 41.

This energizes relay IOI, opening the normally To discharge the materialin the hopper 55,

the operator closes a switch I29, permitting current to flow from theline ll through leads l8, and III, the solenoid coil 82 and throughleads H1 and 40' to the other side of the power'line 41. When the coil62 is thus energized, the armature 84 is retracted and thismovement istransmitted through the actuating rod 61, clevis 68 and link 69 to thecrank-like arm III. The shaft II, to which it is pinned, therefore rocksin its bearings and the connection formed by the toggle arms 13, whichare fastened to the shaft 'II, sleeves II, clevis member I8, rocksoutwardly so that the pin 04 causes the links 11 to pass to the otherside of the plane which passes through the axis of the shaft 1i and thepin I0, thus unlocking the gate. Further upward movement of the armature5|, aided'by the pressure of the material in the hopper, now opens thehopper gate 8| completely and permits the material therein to flow bygravity into a properly stationed receptacle.

When the coil 62 of the solenoid actuating the gate is de-energized, theaction of gravity closes the gate 8i and the momentum carries thetoggles into the locked position.

The embodiments of the invention herein shown and described are to beregarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change withinthe spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a hopper,material feeding means for delivering material to said hopper, saidhopper having'a plurality of walls, one of said walls being vertical andanother of said walls being inclined relative to the vertical wall, alower portion of the vertical wall being hinged to the upper portion ofthe vertical wall and forming a gate, electrical me ans secured to theupper of said material feeding means and also controlling the operationof said over-center toggle to unlock said gate, and means in saidc?rcuit comprising a switch controlled by said electrical means securedto said hopper wall for preventing operation of said material feedingmeans when said hopper gate is unlocked. I I

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, nongravitationalmaterial feeding means, a hopper having a hinged discharge gate and aninclined wall whereby material in said hopper is caused to slide intocontact with and exert pressure upon said hinged gate, means includingan over-center" toggle mechanism connected in such manner to said hopperand to said gate that internal pressure on said gate increases thelooking resistance of said over-center" toggle mechanism, electric meanscontrolling the operation of said nongravitational feeding means,. andmeans cooperating with said electric, means and actuated by said"over-center toggle mechanism for preventing operation of saidnongravitational material feeding means unless said toggle is in lockingcondition. 4

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, nongravitationalmaterial feeding means, a hopper having a hinged discharge gate and aninclined wall whereby material in said hopper is caused to slide intocontact with and exert pressure upon said hinged gate, means includingan over-center" toggle mechanism connected insuch manner to said hopperand to said gate thatinternal pressure onsaidgate increases the lockingresistance of said over-center toggle mechanism, electric meanscontrolling the operation of said nongravitational material feedingmeans, and means cooperating with said electric means and actuated bysaid over-center" toggle mechanism for preventing operation of saidnonportion of the vertical hopper wail, an "overgravitational materialfeeding means unless said toggle is in looking condition, said means forpreventing operation of the nongravitational material feeding meanscomprising a make and break switch.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, material feedingmeansincluding a vibratory electric motor,. a hopper having a hingeddischarge gate, an over-center toggle for locking said discharge gate,electric means including a movable armature for unlocking saidovercenter toggle and a switch. adapted to be actuated by said movablearmature for preventing operation of said vibratory electric motor ofsaid materialfeeding means unless said toggle is in locking condition.

MARK A'. WECKERLY.

